Current Residents
Meet Our Current Residents
PGY1
St. George's University School of Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed
I have always desired to come back to NC and serve the community that welcomed me and my family 10 years ago. During the residency application process, I was seeking a program that would challenge me to grow as a physician and provide me tools and experiences necessary to become a competent physician. That’s when I found WakeMed. I chose WakeMed because I wanted to train in a large community hospital that would expose me to diverse populations and a wide breadth of medical complexities. I also worked as a sitter here before medical school and was familiar with the hospital and its strong reputation for quality patient care.
Additionally, Raleigh is a great place to live and being closer to my family made the decision to move back easier.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine?
As an immigrant from Ghana -West Africa, I have always been acutely aware of the disparities in healthcare that exist across the world.
Throughout my clinical experiences as a CNA/Home health aide, I developed a deep appreciation for the importance of providing quality health care to patients and making a positive impact on their lives and families.
My experience fueled my passion for medicine, and I became a physician to utilize my skills and knowledge to serve and advocate for the underrepresented and underprivileged communities and making a deep impactful difference.
Fun fact about you
I love spicy food, and I plan to come out with my own hot sauce recipe.
Earlier this year, I attended my first ever concert in Miami! I got the chance to see the gospel icon CeCe Winans perform on stage.
Hobbies
I love cooking, trying new recipes, singing, hiking with my husband and spending quality time with my loved ones.
PGY3
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine — New York
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: I was looking for a community-based residency program with strong academic affiliations and specifically a small program within a large healthcare network. Being a small program allows faculty to closely work with each individual resident and give tailored feedback to address residents' shortcomings and devise a plan to make improvements. Training within the WakeMed health network provides residents with the full breadth of patient pathology and undoubtedly prepares each resident to be confident individual practitioners at the end of their training. Furthermore, during the application process, it was very clear how dedicated the faculty and staff were to resident training and providing a well-rounded experience. Lastly, Raleigh is a really cool town and checks all the boxes that I look for in a place I want to live!
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: Medicine provides an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life every day. Having the responsibility to take care of total strangers who entrust their lives and well-being to you is something that is unique to medicine and no other career can offer. Moreover, medicine is an everchanging field in which providers must be able to adapt to new information and advances in patient care that make it an exciting field to be in!
Fun facts about you: I started playing the steel drum when I was in 5th grade. During my senior year in high school, I tied the school record for most 3-pointers made in a season in basketball. I worked on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation in Sells, AZ during my gap year between undergrad and graduate school. I walked dogs as a side job in New York City during medical school.
Hobbies: Exercising, playing guitar, shooting hoops, trying new breweries/restaurants, live music and going to basketball/football/hockey/baseball games.
PGY1
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed
I grew up in Wake County and completed all my education in the Triangle, so I have always known WakeMed as a prominent force in our community health care. The system’s patient-first approach is strengthened by its close partnership with the area’s academic institutions, and our ample resources allow us to care for a wide diversity of people and pathologies. Furthermore, the close-knit nature of the Internal Medicine residency program ensures opportunities for mentorship, professional development and lifelong connections. During my training, I am pleased to serve at a place I call home.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine?
I love working in a field that builds communities around improving the lives of others. Our work is challenging and humbling but so rewarding, and I value the continuous learning and evolving mindsets. It’s an honor to connect with our patients and become part of their health journeys.
Fun facts about you
I speak Hindi, and I minored in Spanish in college. I have recently started a mini collection of Lego builds. I have also been dabbling in astronomy.
Hobbies
I enjoy crafting, painting, listening to music, reading, visiting local eateries and attending art fairs.
PG1
ECU/Brody School of Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed
I grew up in Raleigh, NC. In fact, I was born in this very hospital. All my life I’ve known about WakeMed’s reputation and when I learned they started their own Internal Medicine residency program, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. From the start, whether it was through the interviews or other interactions with members of the program, I have repeatedly seen the faculty and residents passion and compassion for delivering quality, evidence-based care; for supporting one another; and for creating a nurturing learning environment for learners of all levels. I think it is rare to see a hospital that has such an excellent history of training physicians while also genuinely caring for the local community. These reasons are why I chose to apply to WakeMed — to be a part of a program that will undoubtedly provide me with a solid medical foundation while also presenting opportunities to serve a community that has shaped who I am today.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine?
My heart has always been for service. Before medical school, I worked at a local non-profit serving uninsured and impoverished residents of Wake County and, in medical school, I became the co-director of a student-run clinic that provided health care to residents of the nearby homeless shelter. My passion for service is what led me to medicine and what ultimately pushed me to pursue primary care.
Internists have the unique responsibility of caring for the whole person instead of a single organ system. Not only does that mean addressing the biological aspects of a person, but also the psycho-socio-economic components of health as well. From my experiences thus far, I have recognized the significant need for equitable health care, especially primary care, in our community and have learned that there are medical and non-medical ways to address patients’ needs. As I continue through my medical career, and throughout my life, I hope to continue holistically serving my patients and the people of my community.
Fun facts about you
I am an all-around nerd. I have a particular fondness for anything Marvel (from the comics to the MCU), Miyazaki films and ATLA. I also love to cook and like learning about the science of food. I’ve always said if I didn’t get into medicine, I would have applied for culinary school. Last, I am working on becoming a polyglot. The languages I have some proficiency in are English, Vietnamese and Italian. I hope to add Spanish and Arabic to that list.
Hobbies
Besides playing video games and watching TV/movies, I enjoy eating and trying out new restaurants. I also enjoy playing chess, drinking tea (especially with baked goods), reading dystopian novels, playing board games (I have over 50 myself) and spending time with friends and family. Like many people, I’m starting to get into pickleball.
PGY2
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: Ever since beginning medical school at Campbell, I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about WakeMed and how much people trust it. With it's strong reputation, I thought how amazing it would be to partake in and learn from this program. During the application process, it was evident faculty were committed to teaching and supporting residents. I knew it was the best fit for me and a place where mentors and co-residents would want us all to succeed. I was also intrigued by the fact that it is a large community hospital with a variety of cases from a diverse patient population, presenting so many learning opportunities. In addition, Raleigh is a super cool town with a bunch of outdoor activities and an amazing food scene. As someone who loves to hike and wind down by the beach, it is in a great location between the mountains and the coast.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: It is an honor when patients trust their physicians to help them at their most vulnerable times. I don’t take that lightly. It is one of the main reasons why I strive to always improve and learn, so I can treat patients to the best of my ability. Medicine is a field that is innovative, and it’s always advancing; there really is lifelong learning which is one of the many things I enjoy about medicine. I also love that every patient is different and that makes every day special!
Fun facts about you: I have three siblings with whom I am super close. They keep me updated on all the new slang and trends that I can’t keep up with myself. I have 47ish first cousins (lost count). I am at a point in my life where I find grocery shopping fun. My parents owned a Chinese restaurant, so I grew up working in the kitchen and behind the counter. Although they sold the restaurant in 2016, I still have most of the menu memorized.
Hobbies: Exercising, hiking, cooking, baking and karaoke
PGY3
Campbell University School of Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: As a native of eastern North Carolina, I have always been aware of the great amount of respect that WakeMed has in the area. I also knew that I wanted to continue my training in a strong educational environment that has access to the resources of a large medical system while maintaining a community hospital feel. While at Campbell, several of my classmates were able to complete their rotations at WakeMed, and I always heard lots of great things from their experiences here. The opportunity to be one of the early residents of a new, growing program and help shape it was also exciting to me. The Raleigh area is also a great place to live. It is growing very quickly and has access to anything I would ever need, while also not being too far from home.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: Growing up in the small town of Dunn, NC, I saw just how much a person can give back to their community through a career in medicine. I was always inspired by the handful of doctors we had in the community and how much they cared about their patients. I wanted to go to medical school to be able to give back to underserved communities like the one I come from in a similar way. Medicine is also an exciting career that is always changing and encourages lifelong learning.
Fun facts about you: Before deciding to pursue medicine, I was considering music as a career. I played saxophone from middle school through college and graduate school.
Hobbies: Fishing, boating, hiking, grilling and spending time with my family and dog
PGY1
St. George's University School of Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed
I chose WakeMed because I wanted to find a program that would emphasize teaching and helping me grow as a physician.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine?
I have always wanted to go into medicine to help patients the way I have seen doctors help my family. I hope to pursue oncology for my fellowship.
Fun fact about you
I worked as an athletic trainer prior to medical school and got to train professional athletes.
Hobbies
I am an avid golfer. I also enjoy hiking with my dog, working out and trying new foods with my wife.
PGY2
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine — Virginia Campus
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: As a trainee who will be pursing medicine in a community hospital after residency, I wanted to train in a setting similar to what I would be practicing in, but not compromise pathology or unique learning experiences. I think WakeMed is a perfect sized hospital, being large enough to train in a resource rich environment while being a community center. Raleigh was also a perfect location, being only three hours from my hometown as well as having some family and friends already in the city. The city itself is very nice, but I also have the ability to live just outside and have plenty of nature, which I prefer. The small class size was appealing - I felt it would help my class be more close and easier to get individualized teaching and feedback.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: It is both fascinating and practical. I love that every day is different and offers unique challenges. Investing in this skill makes you invaluable and your career options are highly flexible. Plus, it is rewarding.
Fun fact about you: I’m currently learning digital art as well as German language.
Hobbies: Movies and video games, art, golf, tennis, lifting, SCUBA, flying drones and fishing
PGY2
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: I grew up in Wake County, and I was eager to return to North Carolina for residency. I chose WakeMed because I knew I would receive a strong education and the skills necessary to become a well-rounded internal medicine physician. I was impressed by WakeMed’s long-standing experience with educating medical students and residents across multiple specialties. I also loved the sense of camaraderie among the faculty and residents. As a large community hospital, I knew I would receive exposure to a wide breadth of medical cases. WakeMed felt like the perfect fit where I could care for patients in my home state. I am very excited to practice medicine and serve patients in the community that I grew up in.
Something you have enjoyed about your residency experience at WakeMed: It is incredibly rewarding to help patients on their journey to taking charge of their health. As a physician, I love that I am able to educate patients and use my medical knowledge to help provide the best health outcomes. I also enjoy the cerebral aspect of medicine. Medicine is constantly growing and changing with discoveries coming out regularly. I enjoy learning new and established innovations in evidence-based medicine to make informed decisions about patient care.
Fun facts about you: My family is Ghanaian! It is a beautiful country and I highly recommend visiting. Also, in high school I memorized a few dozen digits of the number pi for National Pi Day and can still name a few!
Hobbies: Going to museums, watching movies, mini-golf, reading, board games and knitting
PG1
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed
On a whim, I completed a rotation here as a medical student and knew I had to return for residency. The program's faculty and leadership are kind towards patients and residents, have genuine concern for residents' well-being and are committed to education. The residents are professional, knowledgeable and fun to work with. WakeMed is the ideal combination of a small community program in a bustling metropolitan area, which provides a plethora of medically and socially-complex learning opportunities. WakeMed is invested in serving the citizens of Wake County and strives to ensure the health and well-being of everyone who walks through the hospital's doors.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine?
As a servant-hearted physician, I am in a unique position to provide compassionate care to my patients and their families while acknowledging the connections between the mind, body and spirit. I am able to positively impact the lives of my patients by educating them on acute and chronic illnesses, providing suggestions that improve overall health and walking alongside patients during challenging moments of their lives.
Fun facts about you
GO HOKIES! I am a proud third-generation Virginia Tech Hokie, one of eight in the family.
Need a ride? I sometimes drive for Uber on my days off.
Hobbies
Cooking Asian cuisine, eating local ice cream, trail running, attending local events and watching Netflix are my favorite pasttimes.
PGY3
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine — Carolinas Campus
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: My decision resulted from the experiences I gained in providing care to the rural and medically underserved populations before and during medical school. As a result, I knew I wanted to attend a community-based program that tended to care for a diverse patient population, including those with limited access to care. In addition, the core missions and values of WakeMed and the Internal Medicine Residency Program also stood out as it primarily aims to produce capable internists that provide compassionate, evidence-based, and value-based care in promoting the community’s well-being. It was important to me to find a residency program that is invested in its residents so that the future generations of physicians can provide the highest quality of care possible; WakeMed was the residency program that stood out to me in this regard. The number of career opportunities in Raleigh and surrounding areas for my wife, who is establishing a profession in biomedical research, also made WakeMed a great choice geographically.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: What makes me most passionate are the relationships formed with patients over time and the art of practicing medicine. Practice means that you are always learning and applying what you know, and learning new things is always exciting to me. I have a background in tutoring and teaching and hope to teach in the future. The lifelong process of the “practice” of medicine will allow me to fulfill these ambitions.
Fun facts about you: I thoroughly enjoy coffee roasting, which my Dad and I became interested in a few years ago. My favorite coffee beans come from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The perfect day off for me involves roasting a fresh batch of coffee, usually Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, and drinking coffee throughout the day while hanging out with my family and dogs.
Hobbies: Coffee roasting (obviously), hiking, mountain biking, working on my car and PC gaming
PGY2
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine — South Carolina Campus
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: I always envisioned myself in a community-based residency program with a diverse patient population both medically and culturally. To learn and practice within a small, tight-knit team focused on selflessly helping patients and team members is amazing. When I delved into the program and interviewed, it was clear WakeMed offered that and much more. I liked the idea of being able to grow within a new program that brought with it a rich history of training residents from other programs. Also, as a NC native with family in Raleigh, this is an area I look to call home for many years even after residency.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: My passion for medicine stems from the connections I am able to make with patients. It is such a rewarding experience to take complex medical information and communicate it in such a way as to improve patients' understanding and positively impact their health.
Fun facts about you: I am passionate about trying all kinds of coffee from around the world and have even tried Kopi luwak.
Hobbies: Kayaking, grilling, hiking and playing Mario with my nieces in California
PGY3
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: It’s my aspiration to settle and practice medicine in the Raleigh area — which I call home. WakeMed has a history in the Triangle of training residents from other institutions and has the experience of a larger community hospital system. Raleigh also has a large and diverse population with different medical needs, conditions and complexities. Additionally, it is exciting to be part of a new and expanding health care system as I learn and grow with it. When I chose to apply, I desired an institution close to home in Raleigh which emphasized compassionate care for patients and families, and WakeMed was the clear choice.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: Medicine is a lifelong journey, no two patients are the same and you are always learning. I’m fond of connecting with patients and families, collaborating to translate complex medical conditions into ways they can understand.
Fun facts about you: I was born in Caracas, Venezuela and grew up in South Florida, moving with family to settle down in the Raleigh area during undergrad at UNC Chapel Hill. I’m bilingual, speaking Spanish natively, and am interested in learning new languages such as German.
Hobbies: Cooking new recipes, reading Sci-Fi books, movies, games and Star Wars.
PGY2
Bio Coming Soon
PGY3
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Why you chose to apply to WakeMed: I chose to apply to WakeMed because my dream was to serve in my home state of North Carolina. Training in both Grenada, West Indies and Brooklyn, New York, I have been exposed to a massive variety of patients and care settings. From my first introduction to the WakeMed program, I knew that my time outside of North Carolina would only strengthen my commitment to the community we now treat. While this has certainly been a dream come true, the people of WakeMed have made this journey back home every bit sweeter.
What makes you passionate about practicing medicine: Medicine, to me, is the intersection of nearly every aspect of life — it doesn’t discriminate; nor does it have any roadmaps or timetables. With a background in television production, I have always valued an element of story telling in my work. In medicine, narratives are written every day; combined with sound scientific knowledge and compassionate care, physicians are able to help reframe the narrative of people's journeys during and after their stay in the hospital.
Fun facts about you: I grew up down the road in Chapel Hill and used to have the year that each building on campus was built memorized… not the case anymore though!
Hobbies: Do children count as hobbies? I have a soon-to-be 5-year-old daughter, and a recently-turned 1-year-old son who together bring my wife and me endless joy and entertainment. I also play a number of musical instruments pretty poorly — though I play the saxophone pretty well.
Chief Resident, 2024-2025
Dr. Sherry Wang will assume her role as the inaugural Chief Resident for the WakeMed Internal Medicine Residency Program in June 2024. Originally from Aspen, Colorado, Dr. Wang attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where she received a bachelor’s degree in integrative physiology and psychology- neuroscience. She subsequently earned a master’s degree in physiology at North Carolina State University and a Doctor of Medicine from St. George’s University School of Medicine in St. George, Grenada, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. During her time at WakeMed, she has been a resident member of the WakeMed Graduate Medical Education Committee and served as resident faculty for Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
What is something you have enjoyed about your residency experience at WakeMed?
The best aspects of WakeMed are the people and the inclusive culture. What I have enjoyed the most is getting to know my amazing co-residents and attendings as well as other providers, nurses and staff. From the first day I stepped on campus, everyone has been incredibly kind and willing to help me grow as a person and physician. I have formed lifetime friendships and professional relationships.
What is something you are looking forward to about being Chief Resident?
I am excited to be the inaugural chief resident and am looking forward to learning more about how to be an effective teacher in medicine. I hope to play a role in helping our residents become the best physicians they can be and overcome the feelings of imposter syndrome, which I have often struggled with these past two years. Plus, I am grateful to get to spend another year at WakeMed!
What are your goals for your future career?
At this moment I am unsure whether I want to pursue a fellowship or become a hospitalist. What I know is that I love Nephrology and Critical Care, physiology intrigues me and I enjoy performing procedures. Regardless of what path I choose, I know I want to have a clinically-focused career where I am involved in medical education.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy tending to my house plants (which includes the ones I have moved into the resident lounge), trying new foods, reading fiction novels and spending as much time as possible outside with my dog, my husband and my best friend/co-resident Kristine.